Apparatus for transmitting image, method of transmitting image, computer-readable program and computer-readable storage medium

ABSTRACT

An image transmitting apparatus which transmits an image to a predetermined transmission destination. The apparatus includes an input unit which inputs an image to be transmitted, an authentication unit which authenticates a user by user authentication, a user information acquisition unit which obtains transmission destination information associated with the user if the authentication by the authentication unit is successful, a transmission destination designation unit which designates a transmission destination to which the image should be transmitted, a determination unit which determines, according to details of the transmission destination designated by the transmission destination designation unit, whether or not the image should be transmitted to the transmission designation associated with the user, and a transmission unit which transmits the image based on the result of determination made by the determination unit.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an image transmitting apparatus and animage transmitting method and, more particularly, to an imagetransmitting apparatus which can determine efficiently a particulartransmission address and an image transmitting method.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Image transmitting apparatuses are known which have a procedure foreasily designating a destination in which a registered distributionassociated with a one-touch button or the like is designated byoperating the button, and a destination automatically reflected isfixedly set.

As one of such apparatuses, a facsimile machine disclosed in JapanesePatent Laid-Open No. 7-154563 for example is known. This apparatus isarranged to effectively prevent communication from being erroneouslyperformed by an erroneous input operation, and has a function forinputting call destinations two or more times by one or a plurality ofmethods. In this function, a calling operation is performed only whenitems of input information on the party on the other end coincide witheach other. If the items of input information on the party on the otherend do not coincide with each other, information indicating thisnon-coincidence state is displayed and the calling operation is notperformed. For example, a method of reading a telephone number enteredin an original and a method of inputting a telephone number by variousoperating keys are combined and two numbers input by these methods arecollated to each other to ensure error-free communication. A method inwhich a method for input by using a ten-key cluster in various operatingkeys and a method for input by using one-touch buttons or abbreviateddialing buttons are combined is being practiced.

In the above-described conventional techniques, however, the setting ofthe one-touch buttons is not changed even when a user is identified byauthentication, and it is necessary for the user to select from aplurality of one-touch buttons for use by him/herself.

In the case of the conventional technique including setting afixedly-set destination automatically reflected, the destination to beautomatically reflected cannot be changed by an authenticated person.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above-described problems, an object of the presentinvention is to provide an image transmitting apparatus and an imagetransmitting method designed to remove a user's troublesome operationfor transmission to the user itself and to effectively improve thefacility with which the apparatus is operated. Another object of thepresent invention is to provide an image transmitting apparatus desiredto remove a security hole through which important image information canbe transmitted in secrecy.

To achieve the above-described objects, according to the presentinvention, there is provided an image transmitting apparatus whichtransmits an image to a predetermined transmission destination, theapparatus including an input unit arranged to input an image to betransmitted, an authentication unit arranged to authenticate a user byuser authentication, a user information acquisition unit arranged toobtain transmission destination information associated with the user ifthe authentication by the authentication unit is successful, atransmission destination designation unit arranged to designate atransmission destination to which the image should be transmitted, adetermination unit arranged to determine, according to details of thetransmission destination designated by the transmission destinationdesignation unit, whether or not the image should be transmitted to thetransmission designation associated with the user, and a transmissionunit arranged to transmit the image based on the result of determinationmade by the determination unit.

According to the present invention, there is also provided an imagetransmitting apparatus which transmits an image to a predeterminedtransmission destination, the apparatus including an input unit arrangedto input an image to be transmitted, an administrator authenticationunit arranged to authenticate administrator authority by userauthentication, a transmission destination information setting unitarranged to set transmission destination information if theauthentication by the administrator authentication unit is successful, atransmission destination designation unit arranged to designate atransmission destination to which the image should be transmitted, and atransmission unit arranged to transmit the image to the transmissiondestination designated by the transmission destination designation unitand to a transmission destination according to the transmissiondestination information set by the transmission destination informationsetting unit.

According to the present invention, there is also provided an imagetransmitting method in which an image is transmitted to a predeterminedtransmission destination, the method including a inputting step ofinputting an image to be transmitted, an authentication step ofauthenticating a user by user authentication, a user informationacquisition step of obtaining transmission destination informationassociated with the user if the authentication in the authenticationstep is successful, a transmission destination designation step ofdesignating a transmission destination to which the image should betransmitted, a determination step of determining, according to detailsof the transmission destination designated in the transmissiondestination designation step, whether or not the image should betransmitted to the transmission designation associated with the user,and a transmission step of transmitting the image based on the result ofdetermination made by the determination unit.

According to the present invention, there is further provided an imagetransmitting method in which an image is transmitted to a predeterminedtransmission destination, the method including a inputting step ofinputting an image to be transmitted, an administrator authenticationstep of authenticating administrator authority by user authentication, atransmission destination information setting step of settingtransmission destination information if the authentication in theadministrator authentication step is successful, a transmissiondestination designation step of designating a transmission destinationto which the image should be transmitted, and a transmission step oftransmitting the image to the transmission destination designated in thetransmission destination designation step and to a transmissiondestination according to the transmission destination information set inthe transmission destination information setting step.

Other features of the present invention will become apparent from thefollowing description of the best mode for carrying out the invention inconjunction of the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and,together with the description, serve to explain the principles of theinvention.

FIG. 1A is a block diagram showing the configuration of an imagetransmitting apparatus 100 according to each of embodiments of thepresent invention;

FIG. 1B is a diagram showing a network connection configuration of theimage transmitting apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the firstembodiment;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the secondembodiment;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processing for storing a fixed setting foreach user in the image transmitting apparatus in a case where the imagetransmitting apparatus is used by identifying each user throughauthentication in the third embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the main operation in the thirdembodiment;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing for storing a fixed machinesetting in the image transmitting apparatus in a case where the imagetransmitting apparatus is used by identifying a user throughauthentication in the fourth embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the main operation in the fourthembodiment;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a transmission setting interface view in theimage transmitting apparatus; and

FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining the main operation in the fifthembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment

A first embodiment of the present invention will be described withreference to the drawings.

FIG. 1A is a block diagram showing the configuration of an imagetransmitting apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment. The imagetransmitting apparatus 100 incorporates a scanner and a printer and hasa copying function, FAX transmitting and receiving functions, a printerfunction to print data prepared on a computer, and other functions. Anessential section of the image transmitting apparatus is constituted bya central processing device 101, a main storage device 102, a displaydevice 103, an input device 104, an external storage device 105, aprinting device 106, an image reading device 107 and a network device108. The image transmitting apparatus 100 may have a formatter sectionhaving a parallel interface in accordance with IEEE1284 and a personalcomputer interface (PC I/F) circuit for a universal serial bus (USB) orthe like. The formatter-section is a rendering circuit for preparingimage data based on a page-description language (PDL) data received froma personal computer through the PC I/F circuit or the network I/Fcircuit, performing image processing with the central processing device101, and performing printing with the printing device 106. The imagetransmitting apparatus 100 may also have a facsimile I/F circuitconnected to a telephone circuit and constituted by a network controlunit (NCU) and a modulator/demodulator (MODEM). Image data read by theimage reading device 107 undergoes image processing in the centralprocessing device 101 and is transmitted to a facsimile machine via thetelephone circuit. When data transmitted from a facsimile machine isreceived, the central processing device 101 performs image processing onthe received data and the printing device 106 performs printing usingthe data. The printing device 106, the image reading device 107 and thecentral processing device 101 are connected to a high-speed video busdifferent from a CPU bus from the central processing device 101 toenable image data to be transferred at a high rate. The centralprocessing device 101 performs image processing on image data read bythe image reading device 107 and the printing device 106 performsprinting using the read data, thus performing the copying function. Theimage transmitting apparatus 100 has a sending function to transmit,through the network device 108, onto a network 200, image data read bythe printing device 106 and processed by image processing in the centralprocessing device 101. The image transmitting apparatus 100 also has anIFAX function to prepare an image in accordance with RFC2301 by means ofthe central processing device 101 and to transmit/receive this kind ofimage by using an electronic mail protocol.

The central processing device 101 controls the main storage device 102,the display device 103, the input device 104, the external storagedevice 105, the printing device 106, the image reading device 107 andthe network device 108 and have a role to perform operations based onthe four rules of arithmetic, and logical operations. The centralprocessing device 101 also includes a large-capacity image memory, animage rotation circuit, a resolution conversion circuit, acoding/decoding circuit for processing in accordance with variousstandards: Modified Huffman (MH), Modified Read (MR), Modified ModifiedRead (MMR), Joint Bi-level Image experts Group (JBIG) and JointPhotographic Experts Group (JPEG). The central processing device 101 canexecute various kinds of image processing such as shading, trimming andmasking by using programs stored in the main storage device 102.

The main storage device 102 is a device using a large-capacity storagemedium and connected through a network I/F such as SCSI or USB. Thelarge-capacity storage medium may be a hard disk or a recording mediumsuch as a magneto-optical (MO) disk. The main storage device 102 iscapable of storing information necessary for predetermined imageprocessing in the image transmitting apparatus 100 and taking out theinformation as occasion demands. As the network I/F, a circuit capableof implementation of a network data link for connection to a networkcircuit, e.g., an Ethernet link typified by 10BASE-T or 100BASE-T, or atoken ring may be used.

The display device 103 displays processing results in the forms offigures, characters and the like. A touch panel display is provided asthe display device 103.

The input device 104 provides various inputs to the central processingdevice 101 (e.g., an instruction to perform a predetermined operation).A keyboard and a touch panel are provided as the input device 104. Toenable a user operation to be smoothly executed, the input device 104displays a button on a liquid crystal display (LCD) by using softwareand detects the touch of a user's finger and the like on the button.

The external storage device 105 is a memory for storing various sorts ofinformation. For example, the external storage device 105 is a magneticrecording storage device or a magneto-optic recording device. Theexternal storage device 105 is capable of storing image data on an imageobtained by scanning, image data on an image received by communication,and the like. Image data stored in the external storage device 105 canbe printed by the printing device 106 or transmitted by commanding atransmission according to a manual transmission procedure.

The printing device 106 is a circuit for printing electrical image dataon recording paper. Laser light corresponding to electrical image datais emitted from a laser emission unit. A surface of a photosensitivedrum is irradiated with the laser light to form a corresponding latentimage. A developer is attached to latent image portions of thephotosensitive drum by a development device. A sheet of recording paperis fed from a paper feed cassette to a transfer section by timingsynchronized with the start of irradiation with the laser light. Thedeveloper attached to the photosensitive drum is transferred to therecording paper sheet in the transfer section. The sheet of recordingpaper carrying the developer is transported to a fixation section andthe developer is fixed on the recording paper sheet by heat and pressurein the fixation section. The recording paper sheet passed through thefixation section is discharged by a discharge roller. The recordingpaper sheet is accommodated in a corresponding bin by a sorter whichperforms sorting of recording paper sheets on which printing isperformed as described above.

The image reading device 107 is a circuit for converting image data onan original into electrical data by photoelectric conversion. When anoriginal is transported from an original feed device onto a platen glassand set on the platen glass, the image reading device 107 lights a lampand starts moving a scanner unit and exposure scanning on the original.Reflected light from the original is guided to a CCD image sensor by amirror and a lens and is converted into an electrical signal by the CCDimage sensor. This electrical signal is converted into digital data byan A/D conversion circuit. After the completion of the original readingoperation, the original on the platen glass is removed.

A name of a user, a password and a mail address of the user are storedas authentication data in the external storage device 105. Acommunicable connection is made to an authentication server 109′shown inFIG. 1B. The authentication server 109 performs authentication based onthe authentication data. For authentication to the authentication server109, an authentication method using Kerberos, a network applicationhierarchical program standardized as RFC1510, for example, may be used.In this authentication method, KEB_AS_REQ (Kerberos authenticationservice request) is first set from the client image transmittingapparatus 100 to the authentication server 109 to execute an inquiry asto whether or not the user is authenticate. A log-on session key andclient authentication data encrypted as KEB_AS_REP (Kerberosauthentication service reply) are returned to the image transmittingapparatus 100. KEB_TRG_REQ (Kerberos ticket granting service request) isprepared from this data to execute a request of the authenticationserver 109 for qualification information. Encrypted clientauthentication data is returned as KEB_TRG_REP (Kerberos ticket grantingservice reply) from the authentication server 109. KEB_AP_REQ (Kerberosapplication request) is prepared from this data for request of theauthentication server 109 for service use permission. Data is returnedas KEB_AP_REP (Kerberos application reply) from the authenticationserver 109. If the returned data is normal and if time data in the replydata is correct, “authentication OK” is recognized.

While an example of making three requests of one authentication serverhas been described, a plurality of servers may be used according to anetwork configuration for example. Also, a different authenticationmethod such as DH authentication may alternatively be used.

FIG. 1B is a block diagram showing a network connection configuration ofthe image transmitting apparatus according to the first embodiment.Image transmitting apparatuses 100 a and 100 b are connected to anetwork having a domain name: xyz.co.jp to be connected to a pluralityof computers and pieces of network equipment such as a mail server/POPserver 110 and a client PC 111. This network is connected to theInternet 112 extending throughout the world and is also connected to anetwork at abc.co.jp to which a mail server/POP server 113, a client PC114 and an Internet FAX 115 are connected.

The image transmitting apparatus 100 a is given a HOST name:copy1.xyz.co.jp and an electronic mail address: ifax@copy1.xyz.co.jpuniquely assigned thereto. The image transmitting apparatus 100 b isgiven a HOST name: copy2.xyz.co.jp and an electronic mail address:ifax@copy2.xyz.co.jp uniquely assigned thereto.

The authentication server 109 is a server for performing userauthentication in this domain. User names and passwords valid in thisdomain are stored in the authentication server 109. When power for theclient PC 111 is turned on, input of a user name and a password isdemanded. When a user name and a password are input, an inquiry is madeof the authentication server 109 whether or not the user name and thepassword are correct. If the user name and password of the user areregistered, the client PC is usable under the authenticated user name. Apiece of general-purpose electronic mail is installed in the PC 111, anda mail address: syainl@xyz.co.jp is assigned to the PC 111. The mailserver/POP server 110 is a server having both a mail server function anda POP server function. The mail server/POP server 113 also has similarfunctions.

When a piece of electronic mail is sent from the client PC 111 topcmail@abc.co.jp, it is delivered to the mail server 110 by the simplemail transfer protocol (SMTP). The electronic mail data is deliveredfrom the mail server 110 to the mail server 113 via the Internet 112 bythe SMTP protocol to be stored in a mail box at pcmail@abc.co.jp.

A piece of general-purpose electronic mail is also installed in theclient PC 114. The client PC 114 monitors, at certain intervals, byusing the post office protocol-version 3 (POP3), whether or not anypiece of electronic mail has been delivered to the mail box atpcmail@abc.co.jp existing in the POP server 113. If a piece ofelectronic mail has been delivered to the POP server 113, the client PC114 receives the mail data.

When a piece of electronic mail is sent from pcmail@abc.co.jp of theclient PC 114 to syainl@xyz.co.jp of the client PC 111, the route isused. Mail data prepared by the general-purpose electronic mail softwarein the PC 114 is repeated by the mail server 113 to be sent to the mailserver 110 and stored in the mail box at syainl@xyz.co.jp in the POPserver 110.

The client PC 111 operates so as to obtain the mail data delivered fromthe mail box at syainl@xyz.co.jp by the POP3 protocol.

The image transmitting apparatuses 100 a and 100 b have an Emailtransmission mode and an IFAX transmission mode. The Email transmissionmode is a mode in which an image received by the FAX or IFAX receivingfunction or a black and white/color image read by the scanner istransmitted by assuming transmission to an ordinary electronic mailaddress. The IFAX transmission mode is a mode with the assumption thattransmission to a machine in conformity with the IFAX standard isperformed. The image transmitting apparatuses 100 a and 100 b use SMTPand POP3 for transmission/reception and perform the same operation asthe above-described transmitting/receiving operation of the client PC111 and client PC 114.

In the Email transmission mode, when a color image is read by thescanner, it is transmitted in the JPEG format or in a portable documentformat (PDF) file. When a black and white image is read, it may betransmitted in the tagged image file format (TIFF) and the portabledocument format (PDF). When an image is transmitted to the mail address:syainl@xyz.co.jp, the client PC 111 can receive the mail by the POP3protocol and display the image by means of a general-purpose viewer.

In the IFAX transmission mode, an image read by the scanner istransmitted as an image in TIFF in accordance with RFC2301 to the imagetransmitting apparatus 100 a or 100 b or the Internet FAX 115 inconformity with the IFAX standard by the POP3 protocol and the SMPT.Image data received by the scanner, FAX or IFAX function of thetransmitter is received by the receiver in a remote place and thereceived image is printed by the printer.

The network program for the image transmitting apparatus is roughlydivided into three hierarchical layers of the program: IP, TCP/UDP andapplication layers.

IP is an Internet protocol layer for offering a service to deliver amessage from a sending host to a destination host in cooperation with arepeater node such as a router. In IP, a routing function is performedto manage the addresses of senders transmitting data and the addressesof destinations where data is received and to manage delivery as tothrough what route in the network data is delivered to a destinationhost according to address information.

TCP/UDP is a transport layer for offering a service to deliver a messagefrom a sending application process to a receiving application process.TCP is a connection type of service assuring high communicationreliability, while UDP is a connectionless type of service not assuringreliability.

A protocol in the application layer specifies a plurality of protocols,in which the file transport protocol (FTP), the simple networkmanagement protocol (SNMP), the line printer daemon (LPD), the hypertexttransfer protocol daemon (HTTPd), SMTP, POP3 and the lightweightdirectly access protocol (LDAP) exist. The Kerberos authenticationprogram specified in RFC1510 is also incorporated.

The operation of the image transmitting apparatus in the firstembodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 2.The central processing device 101 controls the operation describedbelow.

When the main power supply for the image transmitting apparatus 100 isturned on, it executes initialing operations for initializing thememory, the I/O port and so on and executes log-in processing if asystem user setting has been made to “do” “user authentication”. In thisstate, processing such as copying requiring involvement of a useroperation cannot be executed and the input device 104 displays agraphical interface view for input of a user name. When log-inprocessing is executed, the image transmitting apparatus of thisembodiment starts operating.

In step S201, a user name and a password for authentication of the rightto use the image transmitting apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1A are inputthrough the input device 104. In step S202, an authentication operationis executed by the authentication server 109. The authentication server109 executes the authentication operation based on user informationincluding user names, passwords and electronic mail addresses and aprogram for referring to and editing the contents of the userinformation. “User names” refer to user names usable by computers in thedomain xyz.co.jp and the principal of which the authentication server109 have charge. Passwords are registered while being associated withthe user names but ***** or the like are displayed for the passwords inorder that the password cannot be easily seen. Electronic mail addressesusable by the registered users are registered.

In step S203, determination is made as to whether or not authenticationexecuted in step S202 is successful. That is, determination is made asto whether or not a match occurs between the input user name andpassword and the user names and passwords registered in theauthentication server 109. If the authentication is successful, theprocess advances to step S204. If the authentication is unsuccessful,the process returns to step S201. Thus, awaiting a user name and apassword is continued to prohibit the next operation.

In step S204, an operating interface view is opened to grant the lightto use the image transmitting apparatus. In step S204, the mail addressof the user identified by authentication is obtained from theauthentication server 109 by using the LDAP communication protocol.

In step S205, the user inputs commands to designate a scanner readresolution and an electronic mail transmission destination. Adestination to which a read image will be sent is input through theinput device 104 (destination input processing). In this step, the userinputs characters one after another by an operation using numeralbuttons or alphabet buttons or inputs a group of characters of a highexpected frequency of use, e.g., “.co.jp” or “.com” at a time by using aparticular button. Alternatively, input is done by selecting a desiredaddress from an address book in the external storage device 105 in whicha plurality of addresses are registered. It is permitted to terminateprocessing without inputting any destination in step S205.

In step S206, determination is made as to whether one or more or nodestinations are designated in step S205. If no destinations aredesignated, the process moves to step S207. If one or more destinationsare designated, the process moves to step S209.

In step S207, an image is read by the image reading device 107. In stepS208, the read image is transmitted to the mail address of the userobtained in step S204. This processing will be described with referenceto FIG. 8. If by processing in steps 206, 207 and 208 transmission isperformed without any destination designated, control is performed sothat the image is transmitted to the mail address of the userautomatically authenticated based on the authenticated information.

In step S209, the image is read by the image reading device 107. In stepS210, control is performed so that the read image is transmitted to thedestination designated in step S205. After transmission, the user namedesignated at the time of log-in, transmission destination information,the transmission date, the transmission time, the number of pagestransmitted, transmission results and other information are written in alog. After writing in the log, a transmission result report fornotifying transmission results is made. Alternatively, a communicationmanagement report is made when a certain number of transmission eventsis reached. This report, having user names entered therein, enableidentification of persons who have performed transmission intransmission jobs. The data written in the log can also be displayed ina list on the input device 104. Also, a communication log in which theuser names are entered can be displayed through a WWW browser in theclient PC on the network by preparing an HTML file from the registereddata and performing an HTTP server function. While an example of thesystem in which the authentication server 109 is connected in a networkhas been described, the authentication server function may beincorporated in the MFP. Also, one MFP may perform the authenticationserver function to obtain the same effect in a case where a plurality ofMFPs are provided as well as in a case where only one MFP is provided.

After the image has been transmitted, a log-out key 809 shown in FIG. 8is pressed to execute log-out processing, thereby completing theprocess. The state of the input device 104 is returned to the interfaceview for inputting a user name.

FIG. 8 shows a transmission setting interface view on the input device104 displayed when image data read by the image reading device 107 istransmitted by electronic mail in step S208 or S209. In Read Size 800, asize in which the original is read by the image reading device 107 canbe designated. For example, one of sheet sizes, e.g., A3, A4, A5, B4,B5, 11*17, LTR and STMT and an orientation in which the sheet is placedcan be designated. In the case of a setting shown in FIG. 8, “Automatic”is selected and values detected by an original detection sensor providedin the image reading device 107 are read to determine the size andorientation. In Resolution 801, a resolution at which the image readingdevice 107 reads an image can be designated. Selection can be made from200*100, 200*200, 200*400, 300*300, 400*400 and 600*600 dpi.

In the setting shown in FIG. 8, a default value “200*200” dpi is set. InDetailed Setting 802, operation details at the time of scanning, e.g., adensity setting, an original type designation, two-side read, continuouspage designation and image quality adjustment can be selected. As amethod of designating an electronic mail transmission destination, twomethods exist: a method of selecting in Destination 803 one ofdestinations registered in an address book containing a record ofaddresses designated by the user in the past, and a method of selecting“Send to Sender's Address” button 806 to set as a transmissiondestination the electronic mail address of the user who logged in. The“Send to Sender's Address” button is displayed or made active only whenthe image reading device 107 is set in a mode of executing userauthentication (hereinafter referred to as “user authentication mode”).

The “Address Book” is a database for managing transmission destinationsin a user mode (not shown) in which information on various settings inthe machine is registered and managed. Registration, change and deletionof a transmission destination can be executed in the user mode. Even auser who does not have the system administrator authority can executeregistration, change and deletion operations for example. Electronicmail addresses for transmission destinations are displayed in an addresssection and “Select” is checked to send a piece of electronic mail tothe corresponding destination. The selected address is displayed as thedestination and shown in the electronic mail “To:” field. The Emailtransmission mode in which transmission to an ordinary electronic mailaddress selected as a transmission destination is assumed or the IFAXtransmission mode in which transmission to an IFAX machine having mutualtransmitting and receiving functions is assumed can be designated. Whiledata in either of the TIFF, JPEG and PDF image formats can betransmitted to each Email transmission destination, data to IFAXdestinations is limited to files in TIFF specified in RFC2301. Whileimages to be transmitted in the Email transmission mode are images readby the scanner, the number of pixels in main scanning is determined inthe IFAX transmission mode. Therefore, predetermined image conversionand impartation of an image in which a transmission destination, asender electronic mail address, a transmission starting time and a pagenumber are described for recognition of from which place to which placean image is transmitted are carried out. An address book for common useby all users without user authentication and address books each providedfor use by one user may be provided as the above-described address book.The address book for common use is usable without user authentication oris made usable by any user if the user is authenticated. The addressbook for each user is made usable for the user after authentication ofthe user.

When “Send to Sender's Address” button 806 is selected, the electronicmail address of the user who logged in is obtained from the server andthe obtained electronic mail address is set in the electronic mail “To”Field. Since the transmission destination is the name of the user whologged in, a different transmission destination is set when a differentuser logs in. When “Send to Sender's Address” button 806 is selected, itis displayed in gray. “Send to Sender's Address” button 806 is changedbetween the selected state and the unselected state each time it ispressed. Subject 804 and Text 805 are for a subject line attached to apiece of electronic mail to be transmitted and a mail text in the pieceof electronic mail. When one of these setting sections is selected, asoftware keyboard is displayed to enabling input of a sequence ofcharacters. A start key 807 is a hardware key provided by the side ofthe input device 104. Drive of the image reading device 107 can bestarted by pressing this key. Blue and red light emitting diodes (LEDs)808 are mounted at a center of the start key 807. In a case where notransmission destination is designated, the red LED is lighted to informthe user of a state where the image reading device 107 cannot be driveneven if the start key 807 is pressed. If at least one transmissiondestination is designated, the blue LED is lighted to inform the user ofa state where the scanner can be driven. When “Send to Sender's Address”button 806 is selected in a case where no transmission destination isdesignated in Destination 803, the blue LED is lighted to enablescanning. However, if “Send to Sender's Address” button 806 is in theunselected state, the red LED in the start key 807 is lighted and theimage reading device 107 cannot be driven even if the start key 807 ispressed. When Log-Out 809 is pressed, the display view on the inputdevice 104 is changed to a user log-in interface view and the operationby the user who logged in ends.

According to the first embodiment, security can be assured by performingauthentication processing, as described above. Also, a read image can betransmitted to a desired destination. Even if no destination isdesignated, an image can be transmitted to an address for a user whologged in. The need for a troublesome user operation is eliminated.Thus, the image transmitting apparatus advantageously easy to use can beimplemented.

Second Embodiment

The configuration of an image transmitting apparatus 100 according to asecond embodiment of the present invention is the same as that accordingto the first embodiment. Therefore the configuration of the apparatus inthe second embodiment will not be described.

The operation of the image transmitting apparatus according to thesecond embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 3.

In step S301, a user name and a password for authentication of the rightto use the image transmitting apparatus 100 are input through the inputdevice 104. In step S302, authentication processing by means of theauthentication server 109 is executed.

In step S303, determination is made as to whether or not authenticationin step S302 is successful. If the authentication is successful, theprocess advances to step S304 and the operating interface view is openedto grant the light to use the image transmitting apparatus 100. If it isdetermined that the authentication is unsuccessful, the process returnsto step S301 and input of a user name and a password is again awaited,thereby prohibiting execution of the next operation.

In step S304, the mail address of the user identified by authenticationis obtained from the authentication server 109. In step S305, atransmission destination is input through the input device 104 orthrough the touch panel of the display device 103. In step S305, the“Send to Sender's Address” button is being displayed by the displaydevice 103. The “Send to Sender's Address” button may be pressed toimmediately designate the Sender's Address without inputting thesequence of address characters.

In step S306, determination is made as to whether or not the “Send toSender's Address” button is pressed. If it is determined that the “Sendto Sender's Address” button is pressed, the process advances to stepS307 and the address of the authenticated user obtained in step S304 isadded to the transmission destination list.

If it is determined in step S306 that the “Send to Sender's Address”button is not pressed, the process moves to step S308 and the inputsequence of characters is added as a transmission destination to thetransmission destination list.

After execution of processing in steps S307 and S308, determination ismade in step S309 as to whether or not destination designationprocessing is completed. If the processing is not completed, the processreturns to step S305 for input of the next destination. If theprocessing is completed, the process advances to step S310.

In step S310, an image is read by the image reading device 107. In stepS311, the read image is transmitted to the destinations in thetransmission destination list designated in steps S305, S306, S307, andS308.

According to the second embodiment, security can be assured byperforming authentication processing, as described above. Also, a usercan designates his/her Sender's Address as an image transmissiondestination by performing a button pressing operation only one time.Thus, the need for a troublesome user operation is eliminated and theimage transmitting apparatus advantageously easy to use can beimplemented.

Third Embodiment

The configuration of an image transmitting apparatus 100 according to athird embodiment of the present invention is the same as that accordingto the first embodiment. Therefore the configuration of the apparatus inthe third embodiment will not be described.

The operation of the image transmitting apparatus according to the thirdembodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processing for storing a fixed setting foreach user in the image transmitting apparatus 100 in a case where theimage transmitting apparatus 100 is used by identifying each userthrough authentication.

Referring to FIG. 4, in step S401, a user name and a password forauthentication of the right to use the image transmitting apparatus 100are input through the input device 104. In step S402, authenticationprocessing by means of the authentication server 109 is executed.

In step S403, determination is made as to whether or not theauthentication is successful. If the authentication is successful, theprocess advances to step S404 and the operating interface view is openedto grant the light to use the image transmitting apparatus 100. If it isdetermined that the authentication is unsuccessful, the process returnsto step S401 and input of a user name and a password is again awaited,thereby prohibiting execution of the next operation.

In step S404, a fixed setting for each user stored on a user-by-userbasis in the external storage device 105 of the image transmittingapparatus 100 is input. In the fixed setting for each user, a settingcan be made to “Automatically Input Sender's Address as CC Destination”.

In step S405, determination is made as to whether or not the fixedsetting for each user input in step S404 is a setting to “AutomaticallyInput Sender's Address as CC Destination”. If the fixed settingcorresponds to the “Automatic Input” setting, the process advances tostep S406 and the setting to “Automatically Input Sender's Address asCC” is stored in the external storage device 105 as the fixed settingfor the authenticated user. If the fixed setting does not corresponds tothe “Automatic Input” setting, the process moves to step S407 and asetting “Not to Automatically Input Sender's Address as CC” is stored inthe external storage device 105 as the fixed setting for theauthenticated user, thereby terminating the process shown in FIG. 4. Theaddress may be set as a CC destination (broadcast destination) or as aBCC destination (anonymous broadcast destination).

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the main operation in the thirdembodiment.

In step S501, a user name and a password for authentication of the rightto use the image transmitting apparatus 100 are input through the inputdevice 104. In step S502, authentication processing by means of theauthentication server 109 is executed.

In step S503, determination is made as to whether or not theauthentication is successful. If the authentication is successful, theprocess advances to step S504 and the operating interface view is openedto grant the light to use the image transmitting apparatus 100. If theauthentication is unsuccessful, the process returns to step S501 andinput of a user name and a password is again awaited, therebyprohibiting execution of the next operation.

In step S504, the mail address of the user identified by authenticationis obtained from the authentication server 109. In step S505, atransmission destination is input through the input device 104 orthrough the touch panel of the display device 103.

In step S506, the input sequence of characters is added as atransmission destination to the transmission destination list.

In step S507, determination is made as to whether the destinationdesignation processing is completed. If the destination designationprocessing is not completed, the process returns to step S505 for inputof the next destination. If the destination designation processing iscompleted, the process advances to step S508. In step S508, the fixedsetting for each user stored as described with reference to theflowchart of FIG. 4 is referred to. If the fixed setting is to“Automatically Input Sender's Address as CC Destination”, the processadvances to step S509 and the mail address of the user obtained in stepS504 is added to the transmission destination list. If the fixed settingis not to “Automatically Input Sender's Address as CC Destination”,processing in step S509 is skipped.

In step S510, an image is read by the image reading device 107. In stepS511, the read image is transmitted to the destinations in thetransmission destination list designated in steps S505, S506, S507,S508, and S509, thereby completing the process shown in FIG. 5.

According to the third embodiment, security can be assured by performingauthentication processing, as described above. Also, a user candesignates his/her Sender's Address as an image transmission destination(CC) by performing a button pressing operation only one time. Thus, theneed for a troublesome user operation is eliminated and the imagetransmitting apparatus advantageously easy to use can be implemented.

Fourth Embodiment

The configuration of an image transmitting apparatus 100 according to afourth embodiment of the present invention is the same as that accordingto the first embodiment. However, the fourth embodiment differs from thefirst to third embodiments in that user names, passwords, information ona user group and a mail address for a group leader are stored in theexternal storage device 105. Accordingly, an authentication service forauthentication based on authentication data is carried out in themachine.

The operation of the image transmitting apparatus according to thefourth embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 6and 7.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing for storing a fixed machinesetting in the image transmitting apparatus 100 in a case where theimage transmitting apparatus 100 is used by identifying a user throughauthentication.

According to the operation shown in FIG. 6, a fixed setting of themachine is necessarily used regardless of who the user is. In thisrespect, this embodiment differs from the third embodiment. This fixedsetting cannot be changed by the user within the user's right. Theadministrator can change the fixed setting only when authenticatinghis/her identification under the administrator authority.

Referring to FIG. 6, in step S601, an administrator user name and anadministrator password for authentication of the administrator authorityfor changing the fixed machine setting in the image transmittingapparatus 100 are input through the input device 104. In step S602,authentication processing with respect to the authentication service isexecuted by using the administrator user name and the password.

In step S603, determination is made as to whether or not theauthentication is successful. If the authentication is successful, theprocess advances to step S604 and the operating interface view is openedto grant the image transmitting apparatus 100 administrator authority.If the authentication is unsuccessful, the process returns to step S601and input of the administrator user name and the administrator passwordis again awaited, thereby prohibiting execution of the next operation.

In step S604, a fixed setting of each machine stored on amachine-by-machine basis in the external storage device 105 of the imagetransmitting apparatus 100 is input. The fixed setting of each machineis to “Automatically Input Group Leader's Address as CC Destination” or“Not to Automatically Input Group Leader's Address as CC Destination”.

In step S605, determination is made as to whether or not the fixedsetting of each machine input in step S604 is a setting to“Automatically Input Group Leader's Address as CC Destination”. If thefixed setting corresponds to the “Automatic Input” setting, the settingto “Automatically Input Group Leader's Address as CC” is stored in theexternal storage device 105 as the fixed setting of the machine in stepS606. If “Automatic Input” setting is not set as the fixed setting, asetting “Not to Automatically Input Group Leader's Address as CC” isstored in the external storage device 105 as the fixed setting of themachine in step S407, thereby terminating the process shown in FIG. 6.The address may be set as a CC destination (broadcast destination) or asa BCC destination (anonymous broadcast destination).

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the main operation in the fourthembodiment.

In step S701, a user name and a password for authentication of the rightto use the image transmitting apparatus 100 are input through the inputdevice 104. In step S702, authentication processing with respect to theauthentication service is executed by using the user name and thepassword.

In step S703, determination is made as to whether or not theauthentication is successful. If the authentication is successful, theprocess advances to step S704 and the operating interface view is openedto grant the light to use the image transmitting apparatus 100. If theauthentication is unsuccessful, the process returns to step S701 andinput of a user name and a password is again awaited, therebyprohibiting execution of the next operation.

In step S704, the mail address of the group leader of the useridentified by authentication is obtained from the authenticationservice. In step S705, a transmission destination is input through theinput device 104 or through the touch panel of the display device 103.

In step S706, the input sequence of characters is added as atransmission destination to the transmission destination list. In stepS707, determination is made as to whether the destination designationprocessing is completed. If the destination designation processing isnot completed, the process returns to step S705 for input of the nextdestination. If the destination designation processing is completed, theprocess advances to step S708.

In step S708, the fixed setting of each machine stored as described withreference to the flowchart of FIG. 6 is referred to. If the fixedsetting is to “Automatically Input Group Leader's Address as CCDestination”, the process advances to step S709 and the mail address ofthe group leader of the user obtained in step S704 is added. If thefixed setting is not to “Automatically Input Group Leader's Address asCC Destination”, processing in step S709 is skipped.

In step S710, an image is read by the image reading device 107. In stepS711, the read image is transmitted to the destinations in thetransmission destination list designated in steps S705, S706, S707,S708, and S709 thereby completing the process shown in FIG. 7.

According to the fourth embodiment, a group leader is automatically andforcibly added to the destination list at the time of transmission of aread image according to a fixed machine setting which can be changedonly by the administrator. Therefore, information about the contents ofan image read and transmitted is transmitted to the group leader withoutexception, thus removing a security hole through which Important imageinformation can be transmitted in secrecy.

Fifth Embodiment

The configuration of an image transmitting apparatus 100 according to afifth embodiment of the present invention is the same as that accordingto the first embodiment. Therefore the configuration of the apparatus inthe second embodiment will not be described.

The operation of the image transmitting apparatus according to the fifthembodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 9.

In step S901, determination is made as to whether or not the apparatusis set in the “user authentication mode” for performing userauthentication. If the apparatus is set in the “user authenticationmode” (YES in step S901), the process advances to step S902. If theapparatus is not set in the “user authentication mode” (NO in stepS901), the process moves to step S906.

In step S902, a user name and a password for authentication of the rightto use the image transmitting apparatus 100 are input through the inputdevice 104.

In step S903, authentication processing is executed by theauthentication server 109.

In step S904, determination is made as to whether or not authenticationin step S903 is successful. If the authentication is successful (YES instep S904), the process advances to step S905 and the operatinginterface view is opened to grant the right to use the imagetransmitting apparatus 100. If the authentication is unsuccessful (NO instep S904), the process returns to step S902 and input of a user nameand a password is again awaited, thereby prohibiting execution of thenext operation.

In step S905, the mail address of the user identified by authenticationis obtained from the authentication service and the “Send to Sender'sAddress” button is displayed on the display device 103. It is possibleto immediately designate the Sender's Address by pressing the “Send toSender's Address” button without inputting the sequence of addresscharacters.

In step S906, a transmission destination is input through the inputdevice 104 or through the touch panel of the display device 103 to bedisplayed. Alternatively, the “Send to Sender's Address” button in stepS905 is pressed to designate the destination.

In step S907, determination is made as to whether or not the “Send toSender's Address” button is pressed. If it is determined that the “Sendto Sender's Address” button is pressed (YES in step S907), the processadvances to step S908 and the address of the authenticated user obtainedin step S905 is added to the transmission destination list. If it isdetermined in step S907 that the “Send to Sender's Address” button isnot pressed (NO in step S907), the process moves to step S909 and thesequence of characters input in step S906 is added as a transmissiondestination to the transmission destination list.

After execution of processing in steps S908 and S909, determination ismade in step S910 as to whether or not destination designationprocessing is completed. If the processing is not completed, the processreturns to step S906 for input of the next destination. If theprocessing is completed, the process advances to step S911.

In step S911, an image is read by the image reading device 107. In stepS912, the read image is transmitted to the destinations in thetransmission destination list designated in steps S906, S907, S908, andS909.

According to the fifth embodiment, the display of the “Send to Sender'sAddress” button is changed according to whether or not the apparatus isset in the “user authentication mode”, as described above. Thus, theimage transmitting apparatus can be implemented so as to have improvedconvenient according to the operating mode.

While the “Send to Sender's Address” button is not displayed if theapparatus is not set in the “user authentication mode” as describedabove, the arrangement may alternatively be such that the “Send toSender's Address” button is set in a non-operable state, although it isdisplayed. Preferably, the form in which the button in the non-operablestate is displayed is different from the form in which the button in theoperable state is displayed.

The arrangement may also be such that even when the apparatus is set inthe user authentication mode, the “Send to Sender's Address” button isnot displayed or is set in a non-operable state if an address associatedwith an authenticated user is not registered.

While in the above-described embodiments an address associated with anauthenticated user is automatically set when the “Send to Sender'sAddress” button is pressed, a procedure described below may be adopted.If after the completion of authentication of a user a transmissioncommand is input (the start key is pressed) without performing anydestination designating operation, an address associated with theauthenticated user is automatically set and transmission is executed.

Also, the arrangement may be such that details of operations executedafter user authentication are stored as a record on a user-by-user basisin the external storage device 105 for example, and the storedinformation is used again when user authentication is performed. Thatis, when a user is authenticated, a certain number of transmissiondestinations, e.g., five to ten transmission destinations in thetransmission destinations designated in the past by the user performinga predetermined operation (destinations selected from the address bookor input through a software keyboard) are displayed to enabledesignation of some of them.

According to the above-described embodiments, the operability of theimage transmitting apparatus at the time of transmission of an image canbe effectively improved.

While transmission of image data obtained by reading an image on anoriginal with the scanner has been described by way of example in thedescription of the embodiments, image data stored in the externalstorage device 105 may be designated and transmitted instead of imagedata from the scanner. As data stored in the external storage device105, printing data such as PDL data received through a network,accompanying image file data contained in electronic mail data receivedby the IFAX function using an electronic mail protocol, image datareceived by a facsimile function using the G3 procedure or the like,image data obtained with the scanner and stored, etc., may be used. Theexternal storage device 105 may be divided into a plurality of memoryboxes. A desired one of the memory boxes may be selected and desiredimage data in the selected memory box may be successively designated.When a user is authenticated, the memory box operable only by theauthenticated user may be displayed and desired image data may beselected from the memory box.

Other Embodiments

A recording medium on which program codes of a piece of software forrealizing the functions of each of the above-described embodiments maybe provided in a system or an apparatus. The present invention can alsobe attained by a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatusexecuting the program codes stored on the storage medium. In such acase, the program codes themselves, read out from the storage medium,realize the functions of each of the above-described embodiments, andthe storage medium on which the program codes are stored constitutes thepresent invention. For example, as a storage medium for supplying suchprogram codes, a floppy (trademark) disk, a hard disk, an optical disk,a magneto-optical disk, a compact-disk read-only memory (CD-ROM), acompact disk-recordable (CD-R), a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memorycard or a ROM can be used.

The functions of each of the above-described embodiments can be realizedby executing the program codes read out by the computer. Further, thepresent invention comprises making an operating system (OS) or the likewhich runs on the computer perform part or the whole of actualprocessing according to instructions based on the program codes torealize the functions of each of the above-described embodiments.

Further, the present invention comprises a case where the program codesread out from the storage medium are written to a memory provided in afunction expansion board inserted in the computer or a functionexpansion unit connected to the computer, and where a CPU provided inthe expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or thewhole of actual processing to realize the functions of each of theabove-described embodiments.

Also, the program codes of the software for realizing the functions ofeach of the above-described embodiments may be distributed through anetwork to be stored by a storage means, e.g., a hard disk or a memory,or on a storage medium, e.g., a CD-RW or CD-R in the system orapparatus. The present invention can also be attained by making thecomputer in the system or apparatus (or CPU or MPU) read out and executethe program codes stored by the storage means or on the storage medium.

As many apparently widely different embodiments of the present inventioncan be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it isto be understood that the invention is not limited to the specificembodiments thereof except as defined in the claims.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No.2004-250937 filed on Aug. 30, 2004 and No. 2005-226533 filed on Aug. 4,2005, which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.

1.-32. (canceled)
 33. An image transmitting apparatus comprising: ascanner that reads an original in response to a reception of a startoperation corresponding to an instruction to start reading the original;a memory that stores programs; and a processor that executes theprograms to: (1) identify a user; (2) automatically acquire a mailaddress having been registered in advance for the identified user; (3)in a case where the start operation for the instruction to start readingthe original by the scanner is received without any of user's operationsincluding a designation of a mail address and a setting related to thereading by the scanner, control transmitting image data corresponding tothe read original using the acquired mail address, and (4) in a casewhere the start operation for the instruction to start reading theoriginal by the scanner is received after a user's designation operationof destination information including a mail address input by theidentified user and not including the acquired mail address isperformed, control transmitting the image data using the destinationinformation.
 34. The image transmitting apparatus according to claim 33,wherein the user is identified by authentication of the user.
 35. Theimage transmitting apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the mailaddress input by the identified user is selected from an address book.36. The image transmitting apparatus according to claim 33, wherein thesetting related to the reading by the scanner includes a setting of aresolution.
 37. The image transmitting apparatus according to claim 33,wherein the acquired mail address is registered in advance at anexternal server and is acquired by using LDAP communication protocol.38. The image transmitting apparatus according to claim 33, wherein theacquired mail address is registered in advance at another imagetransmitting apparatus and is acquired from the another imagetransmitting apparatus.
 39. The image transmitting apparatus accordingto claim 33, wherein, in a case where the start operation for theinstruction to start reading the original by the scanner is receivedwithout any of user's operations including a designation of a mailaddress and a setting related to the reading by the scanner, image datawhich is data generated by reading the original using default values bythe scanner is transmitted using the acquired mail address.
 40. A methodfor controlling an image transmitting apparatus having a scanner thatreads an original in response to a reception of a start operationcorresponding to an instruction to start reading the original, themethod comprising: identifying a user; automatically acquiring a mailaddress having been registered in advance for the identified user;transmitting, in a case where the start operation for the instruction tostart reading the original by the scanner is received without any ofuser's operations including a designation of a mail address and asetting related to the reading by the scanner, image data correspondingto the read original using the acquired mail address, and transmitting,in a case where the start operation for the instruction to start readingthe original by the scanner is received after a user's designationoperation of destination information including a mail address input bythe identified user and not including the acquired mail address isperformed, the image data using the destination information.
 41. Themethod according to claim 40, wherein the user is identified byauthentication of the user.
 42. The method according to claim 40,wherein the mail address input by the identified user is selected froman address book.
 43. The method according to claim 40, wherein thesetting related to the reading by the scanner includes a setting of aresolution.
 44. The method according to claim 40, wherein the acquiredmail address is registered in advance at an external server and isacquired by using LDAP communication protocol.
 45. The method accordingto claim 40, wherein the acquired mail address is registered in advanceat another image transmitting apparatus and is acquired from the anotherimage transmitting apparatus.
 46. The method according to claim 40,wherein, in a case where the start operation for the instruction tostart reading the original by the scanner is received without any ofuser's operations including a designation of a mail address and asetting related to the reading by the scanner, image data which is datagenerated by reading the original using default values by the scanner istransmitted using the acquired mail address.